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Teenage Birthday Party Idea: 13 - 19 years old
A Teen Birthday Party idea, is for some the stuff of
nightmares.
My clients and site guests are people like you who have often stepped in
it before realizing it's too late. The last thing a family with teenagers needs
is more tension and drama.
Some would see a teen birthday party as an extension of drama,
I say have another look.
Best TEEN Birthday
QUESTIONS
- Where is the focus? - it can
get out of hand if you are not realistic. Therefore: Why a party? Why
now?
- What do you get out of it? You,
the family and the teen must all win.
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It's a real good time to share responsibility and
perhaps encourage the resident teen to assist with the planning, set up and delivery. They
will be learning a fabulous life skill and it will look great on their resume as
things they have done. It shows initiative and maturity. After all isn't that
what they have been saying all along? That they have grown up! Help them to do
it!
Of course, there are differences between what they are able to handle in this age block.
Having them involved for THEM and their pals is a
massive achievement. The best teen birthday party idea might just come from a
teen!!
It can start with small things like choosing
music or
food. Help with the theme may be a bit tricky but they can have a go. The wonder
of going out for dinner at a fancy restaurant may be grown up and the lure of an
overnight camp-out to go kangaroo chasing at dawn in the rainforest, might be one
way to kick off that love of photography.
Teen Birthday Party Idea:- Concepts to embrace
With teens it's more about an
experience than a standard
birthday party idea. That means the sky is the limit as far as ideas go.
Look around, share the load, be incredibly clever and resourceful by tapping into
new life experiences that will be recalled in years to come as my
glorious teenage years. Hormones might ague against this down the track.
Setting this approach up might need to start in the younger age groups. If the
birthday idea or party is seen as a reward, then the child -- now teen -- is
used to earning it. Only now, the party ideas are really cool! The teen
birthday party idea crop you've been growing all these years is now about to
bare fruit.
Add with any teen birthday experience the elements of
mystery, suspense and drama and you have a force that can harness the
unbridled enthusiasm of the teenage years.
Something as simple as having her friends over for a PJ night to
watch teen daughter's favorite TV show / DVD can be turned into the
MOST-talked-about-MUST-do event of their social calendar.
Best TEEN Birthday
CONSIDERATIONS
- Cool --they are, YOU are not but you are the holder of the
gold ($) and therefore, you make the rules. As long as this is clear and
respected, calm will prevail.
- Choice- there are two choices: their choice vs resentment.
Trick is to have them come up with something acceptable to all and
feel good about choosing it...and have Mom and Dad acknowledge it as
grown up.
- Negotiation as option - forego a teen party for a special trip /
item etc, Or have it every second year. Only on their 18th etc.
- Cost contribution - if they put in XYZ you'll match it
/double it. Work with them. Use pocket money as their funds bank if they are
underage and not employed
- Hype - and its associated faces
will spoil good planning and intentions.It has no place at a teen party.
- Gift selection - branding
and "style" have made it difficult for
parents. Set limits and negotiate without emotion.
- Extravagance vs Style: Cost
without cool is not what's needed. The reverse is.
- Research you teen - as their tastes develop the stuff they
share with you may not always be forthcoming. Probe discreetly.>
- The Party Finishes - after
everything is completed and cleaned up, thank you letters written, and
the photos are on the wall! Completions create better new beginnings.
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WARNING: Expectation minefield, step
carefully.
I have noticed several teen birthday
party problems that come along despite careful planning.
This expectation minefield can best be summarized:
Peer Pressure -- can be seen in things like gate crashing,
alcohol misuse, drugs, underage sex, loud music etc. and that's from the kids.
Adults exert their own kind of pressure at times too, don't they?
Share the supervisory load in a
ratio that seems to fit the type of kids attending.
Cost sharing with other parents can be done by pot luck dinners, bring a
plate, byo Pizza.
A word on Family attending..... think about it first. How
extended is the family? How well do people get on? Can we have a dinner at one
time and the party experience at another? There are plenty of ways for the whole
family to be involved.
Thinking through a few of these things together with your teen might shed more
light on the adult world and the concept of consequences for them. You will also
get to spend time with your beloved child-grown-up-almost and get a valuable
portal into their life. Out of this will come a teen birthday party idea
that EVERYONE is willing to support. Not a bad return for a few hours chat,
don't you think?
Best TEEN Birthday
SUGGESTION
Build up the Party as an event
at what ever level your TEEN is comfortable with. If they don't want IN,
support their decision to be OUT. Affirm positive movement in the
direction of being adult and responsible. Do it as if they always were
-- adult and responsible. |
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